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Social Studies 5: That Scoundrel: Benedict Arnold 17 Views
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Description:
Let's just say it's a good thing Benedict Cumberbatch is here to start redeeming the name. Today we're learning about one of the traitorest traitors that ever traited through the U.S., Benedict Arnold.
Transcript
- 00:04
[Dino and Coop singing]
- 00:12
The world is filled with some pretty great Benedicts... [The Earth from space]
- 00:16
Benedict Cumberbatch…eggs benedict….Benedict Cumberbatch eating eggs benedict… [Pictures of the different Benedicts]
- 00:21
But when it comes to American history, the name of “Benedict” is associated with a guy [US flag]
- 00:26
everyone loves to hate: Benedict Arnold.
Full Transcript
- 00:29
But believe it or not, he wasn't always the lowest rung in the Benedict ladder. [Ladder full of pictures of different people named Benedict]
- 00:34
In fact for much of the Revolution, Benedict Arnold’s name was synonymous with “war hero". [Picture of Benedict Arnold and war hero stamp]
- 00:39
He helped take Ft.
- 00:40
Ticonderoga…
- 00:41
… got wounded in an assault on Quebec City…
- 00:43
… and was instrumental in defeating the British at the Battle of Saratoga… [Coop pointing at a blackboard]
- 00:46
… a victory that convinced the French to join the Americans against Great Britain. [French person holding a baguette]
- 00:51
Not too shabby.
- 00:52
So how did this all-American hero end up on America’s most-hated list? [Benedict Arnold under Hitler and Stalin on the hated list]
- 00:56
Well, for starters, he had a huge ego. [Benedict Arnold dancing in disco lights]
- 01:00
Arnold once got so upset about a promotion that he thought wasn’t promote-y enough,
- 01:04
he threatened to quit the army… [Brigadier General badge on Benedict Arnold]
- 01:06
…until General Washington finally agreed to
- 01:08
promote him from Brigadier to Major General.
- 01:11
We guess "Major Pain in the Butt" wasn't a rank yet…
- 01:14
Arnold also didn’t always play well with others. [Benedict Arnold flicks a child out of the sand pit]
- 01:18
He was just as likely to fight with his Continental Commanders as he was with the
- 01:21
British.
- 01:22
General Horatio Gates hated Arnold so much, he minimized Benedict’s contributions at [Horatio Gates photoshopping Benedict out of his battle photo]
- 01:27
the Battle of Saratoga.
- 01:29
Benedict wasn’t exactly excited about that.
- 01:32
Guess their mother's never taught them to play nice. [Benedict Arnold punches Horatio Gates]
- 01:34
After receiving a second wound to his leg, Arnold needed some time to recuperate. [Arnold in hospital]
- 01:38
George Washington left Arnold in charge of defending Philadelphia while he got better.
- 01:42
Which…is kind of a big thing, if you ask us. [Arnold looking confused]
- 01:45
When we're recuperating, we don't even want to change the channel on the TV, much less [Guy doesn't want to move from the sofa]
- 01:49
defend an entire state…
- 01:51
Anyway.
- 01:52
It was in the City of Brotherly Love that Arnold fell for a woman named Peggy Shippen.
- 01:55
Peggy introduced Arnold to her family – all of whom were hardcore British loyalists. [People wearing clothes covered in the British flag]
- 02:00
Seriously, these people probably never missed an episode of Doctor Who.
- 02:03
Which is when the rebel Benedict Arnold’s life started taking a turn for the treasonous. [Dino pointing at a blackboard]
- 02:07
Either out of love for Peggy or hatred for his fellow [Arnold giving Peggy flowers]
- 02:10
American commanders…
- 02:12
… Benedict Arnold decided to become a British spy. [Arnold wearing a spy costume]
- 02:14
In letters supposedly written for his wife…
- 02:16
… Arnold would pass along key information about Continental's troop and supply movements. Sneaky, sneaky... [Letter containing secret information]
- 02:23
And in 1780, when Benedict took command of the Continental Fort at West Point… [Arnold is handed the keys for the fort]
- 02:27
… he immediately turned around and agreed to hand the keys over to the British for 20,000 [British guy buys the keys]
- 02:32
pounds.
- 02:33
Fortunately for the Americans, Britain’s top spy, and Benedict’s co-conspirator,
- 02:36
was captured while he was carrying letters from Benedict detailing the plot. [Guy in a horse and wagon is stopped]
- 02:41
Silly Benedict…that's why you should always Snapchat your nefarious plans. [Bars appear]
- 02:45
Arnold fled for the British lines, where he became a general and led attacks on his former [Arnold screaming and running to British flags]
- 02:49
teammates.
- 02:50
Unfortunately for Benedict, the British lost the war. [British soldiers explode]
- 02:53
He moved to England, but never received the money he’d been promised. [Arnold begging on the streets]
- 02:56
He lived a hard life before dying in London in 1801.
- 02:59
Meanwhile, over here, calling someone a “Benedict Arnold” became shorthand for “traitor.” [Baseball fans look angry]
- 03:04
And over 200 years later, he still sits near the top of the all-time backstabbers in history.
- 03:09
We can only hope Benedict Cumberbatch doesn't succumb to the same fate. [Benedict Cumberbatch with a halo]
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